Sander for automotive vehicles



Feb. 26, 1952 p, J, SUNDHE1M 2,587072 SANDER FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLESFiled Feb. 10. 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 I N VEN TOR.

WMLM

Feb. 26, 1952 I p J"SUNDHEiM 2 2,587,072

SANDER FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEl-IICLES Filed Feb. 10, 1950 v 72 SHEETSSHEET 2VIII IIIIIIIIIIIIA Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STA-TES PATENT OFFICESANDER FR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Peter J. Slldlieim, Bufiaio, N. Y.

Applicatin February 10;1950SerialNo. 143,450

2 Clims. (C1. 29134) My invention relates 130 new and usefulimprovements in a road sander for automotive vehicles, and especiallyfor a sander for passenger vehicles.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a sander having astorage bin, preferably located in the trunk compartment or the haggagecompartment in the rear 01 the vehic1e, so that sand or grit may bedistributed in a relative1y short path directly in front of the rearwheels of the vehicle;

Still another object of the invention is 130 provide a sander whereinthe storage bin may be built into the new cars when manufac3tured, whichbin will be directiy behind the upright of the rear sea.t.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sander wherein thecontrols' are located 011 the dashboard for easy access to the driver;and wher6in the Sand may be distributed coutinually or, every time thefoot brake is applied.

Still another object of the invention is 130 provide a sander that iscompact and eifxcient, so that the sand or grit may be distributed.directiy in front of the rear wheels and thus prevent skidding on icystreets, or assist in stopping o1 starting the car.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sander with'electric controls; and. 130 provide 1amps in the form of Signals on thedash, so that the operator can tel1 whether the sand is beingdistributed, and if so oontinually, or'by ehe applying of oho footbrake, and also whether the storage bin needs replenishing.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnew am]; usefu1 impr'ovements and combination of parts as will behereinafter more fu1ly described and pinted out in the claims.

Referring now 120 ehe drawings, showing a preferred form andonemodification,

F'ig.v 1 is a longitudinal seotion through an automobile, showing myinvention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on 1ine 2-2 of Fig. 1,

.Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but of a modified form, that is,with tvvo separate storage bins for holding the grit or sand,

.Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through one of the bins, similar toFig. 3, but on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on 1ine 55 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectiohal view on 1ine 66 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 7 is a view showing a preferable wiring diagram for the operationof the storage bins.

Referring now for the moment to Fig. 1, which is a fragmentary sectionalview of a, pas'senger automobile With a Chassis frame l and th'e rearwheels 2, the rear seat 3, forward seat- 4, anal the dashboarc? .5 onwhi'ch is mounted the e1etrica1 control box to be hereinaftermentioned.-

Behind the rear seat 3 and. located in the trunk.

or storage eompartment l may be seen a storage bin 3; and from thisstorage bin 8 may be seen the leaoi-in wires 9 150 a micro-switch I0,here-' after to be fu1ly described, and die lead-in wires II thatoonnectWith a solenoid. I2, also tobe mentioned shortly.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, and to-the storage bin 8, it Will beunderstood that it may be of any desired height, width and length, and

is provided With a hinged cover I3, so that this storage bin 8 may befilled with sand or grit G. I preferably use a sharp sand, that is,covered With a bar or asphaltum, o1 any similar subsoance, so that thesand will not absorb moisture and thus wiliflow more free1y whenthesolenoid-operated gate, also hereafter be mentioned, is raised.

The tank or storagebin 8 may, ifdesired, be divided into two 1riainpa'rts=by partitionwalls Hi, -and near the bottom ther-eof thefe' are-the respective openings M and l'5'*whieh-Willperfiii the Sand or gritGflow th-rough theopning H3 in the bottom-ofthe storagebin 8 aridtheopening I 7 in die fl0or into a b'1furcated coup'ling" I8, from onearm o1 Which leacis tne tube In -ari fro'm the oher arm of Whi0h leadsthe tube 2.

NOW, these tubes I9 and 20 are supported frompart of thechassisfr'amelas at2land22ya-nd each tube has a small rubber hose DOTIZiOI1Z3' and 24that hangs directlyin frontof the wheeels' 2, as may be seen in Figs. 1and 2.

It Will also be" noticed th'al; oho sto'rage bin"8 has th s12intingb'outoin 25, so war; the"grit"G in. each division of the st0ragv bin 8willfl jiiv to the openirigs I4 an'd I5 in me Walls l'- and [5.

New, acting as a gate in frizmt of the': pn'iiis. I4 and I5 is thebcix-liiie in cross-sectiri ga'fii 26 (but without a bottom) and in'th6'uppe'i" portion of; the p1ate or gafie 26 isfastenecl' a plung-er 27 ofthe solenoid I2 heretofore mentioned. Thus, when the solenoid I2 isenergized, the -gate 26 will be elevated so lefi the g rit flow throughthe aforeri1entioned. opening5.-1W

and I5 through the tubes I9 anal 2 anci;ov.it

in front of the rearwheels -2. When the solenoid I2 is de'-energized;the weight of the gate=2- will-caus6 it to drop by gravity and. cut 01Tthe flovv of thegrit G, as is we11 understood.

However, I-.may empioy a small spring 215 about the plunger 27,interposed betweenthe top of the gate 43 (Fig. 6) and the bottom of theso1e noid I2 130 assist in the closing of the gate43; This woulda;lsoapply, of course, tothosolenoid I'2 forraising and low'ering the gate 26(Fig.e2)i Also mounted in the storage bin 8 is' whatmight be termed; atell taile"apparatus 23f01' signalling the driver when thestor'age bin8' as used in the fcirm just des(zribed'; Thereford;

reference is made to Figs. 4, and 6, whic'n show the tell-tale apparatus28 and micro-switch II) more clearly, as these are enlarged sectionalviews.

This tell-tale 28 consists preferably of an aluminum rod 29, which ispivoted as ab 30 within the storage bin 8 to bracket 3I, which bracket3I extends out a short distance from the wall 32 of the storage bin 8'.T0 this rod 29 there is affixed a relatively wide piece of fibre ormetal 33, ancl near the lower end is a like or similar piece 34. Thereis also an adjusting screw 35 that; passes through the rod 29 and alsopasses through the wall 32 and is used to operate the mmro-switch III.This micro-switch II] has the spring-arm 35 and cooperates with theswitch point 31 to close an electric circuit through the heretoforementioned lead-wires 9 when the bin 8 is nearly empty.

lt will be seen that when the storage bin 8 is filled. or partly filledwith the grit G, it will press against Ehe two fibre boards 33 ancl 34and the adjuscing screw 35 push Izhe spring-arm 36 away from its contactpoint 31 and thus provide an open circuit with respect to thismicro-switch III. I-1owever, when the grit G gets below the fibre board34, wh1ch, is mounted on the swinging arm 29, the arm 29 will Swing tothe ver- I;ical and thus ahow the spring-arm 36 of ehe m1cro-switch II]to contact with its point 31 to mose the circuit, which in turn lights ared launp on the dashboard 5, which will be explaineci when the wiringdiagram is referred Eo.

II. will be understood that whether there 1s one storage bin 8, or two,as shown in the modified form in Fig. 3, it; will on1y be necessary tohave one tell-tale apparatus 28, as these bins will be operated inunison, although if desired two teil- I.a1e apparatuses and twomicro-switches can be used.

Referring now to the modified forzn, I:he e1ect rical operation isidentical, laut in this form, rather than having one storage bin 8 witha. bifurcated. coup1ing I8 at: its bottom to distribute the grit G infront of. the wheels 2, I provide I3Wo storage bins 8 and 8", and adescription of one bin will be a description of both.

In this form, the storage bin 8' has a false bottom 40 and the wall 32with I:he opening 42 berein, in front cf which opening 42 is I7heright-angle shaped gate 43 which is operated by the solenoid I2; and thegrit G will flow through the opening 45 into the tube or conductor 46and then Into the flexible end piece of hose 41 in front of the rearwheels 2. This is duplicated on the other side of the car, the materialor grit G fiowing from the bin 8" when its solenoid is operated. Ofcourse, there is the tell-tale apparatus 28 just desoribed and. themicroswitch I0.

II. will be understood that I:he on1y difierence here from the preferredform is that there are two tanks or storage bins, each having its ownsolenoid, rather than having one tank or storage bin with one solenoid,I;o which latter is fastened the double form of gate 120 discharge thematerial er grit G from the opposite sides of the storage bins.

The electrical connections are the Same as in the preterred form, withI:he one diflerence, that there will be two solenoids in the circuitinstead of one; and two micro-switches, if desired, instead of one.

Referring now to Fig. 7, I have shown a wiring diagram for the operationof the preferred form,

4 that Is, where 'there is just one storage bin illustrated; but, itwill be understood that the on1y difierence between the electricalWi1'ing diagram for the two storage bins wou1d be 130 put anothersolenoid in the circuit, which is so obvious it has not beenillustrated.

II: will be understood that the sander is automatic, that is, automaticin that when the sWitch 1's thrown in one position, as wel1 shortly bementioned, the grii; G Will be discharged unti1 the switch is opened,and a certain signa1 will fiash, whereas if the switch is thrown in theopposite direction, the grit G will only be discharged when the fooi;peda1 is depressed and certain signals will be fiashed to the driver.

Referring 130 Fig. 1 for the moment, there will be noticed theconventional foot pedal 49, which when depressed closes a switch 40which switch 50 may be seen in the wiring diagram in Fig. '7.

Having explained the several forms cf storage bins and their position,as we1l as the manner of providing a discharge opening With a gate 130be operated by a solenoid, reference is now made the wiring diagramshown in Fig. '7.

There Will be noticed the electric battery E, and I;he lead wires II,heretofore mentioned, which lead to the solenoid I2. One of the Wire sIla leads to one side of the solenoid I2 and is connected as ab 5I,while the other lead wire I Ib is connected the solenoid I2 as at thepoint 52, and then runs to a switch post 53.

There will be noticed in the wiring diagram a modified double-pole,double-throw switch 54; anti when the same is thrown upwardly, thecircuit will be completed thru the wires IIa, III) and IIc back 130 theother side cf the battery E. 4 Also there is a small shunt circuit 55 inwhich there is a white lamp 55, this shunt circuit 55 being connect-edbetween the wires IIa and III), as may readily Ioe Seen. Thus, when thedoublepole, double-throw switch 54 is th1own upwardly,

as viewed from Fig. 7, the solenoid I2 is energized, and I;he White 1amp56 is 1it, Which lamp 55 is mounted. on the box 6, in which is alsomounted the double-pole, double-throw switch 54.

Thus, when the operator throws the doublepo1e, double-throw switch 54 tothe right, ehe solenoid I2 will be energized to elevate the gate 26; andthe grit G will continue 130 discharge through the conductors I8 and I9and in front of the real wheels 2 until the switch 54 is again opened.

Of course, the operation is the same whether one storage bin is used, ortwo, on1y if two storage bins are used, there wou1d be another solenoidin the circuit.

II; will also Ioe seen that the micro-switch I0 is in a. shunt; ci1cuit57 which is connected, as may be seen, on the opposite side 0f thebattery E; and in I;his circuit 51 is also the red 1amp 58 which is alsomounted in the b0x 6 on the dashboard 5 holding ehe double-pole,clouble-throw switch 54, so that when the tell-tale apparatus 28 sWingsinwardly, as viewed from Fig. 6, this small switch 36 Will close theshunt circuit 57 .and cause the real light 58 to show in the switch box6.

Still glancing ab the wiring diagram, and ab the double-pole,double-throw switch 55, it will be noticed that I 1ead a Wire or Jumper63 for the post 60' to the aforementioned binding post 53, connected 130the lead wire III); while from I;he post 6I of the double-pole,double-throw switch 54 I leacl the wire 62 I;o a green light 63,

and then connect this wire 52 to the Wire Ila at the point 64.

It will also be noticed that there is a lead wire 65 that connects a1;56 to the wire I Ic whic-h leads to the foot brake switch 59. Thus, whenthe double-pole, double-throw switch 54 is thrown down (Fig. 7) there isa completed circuit through Ilc, the double-pole, double-throw switch54, and the Wire 62 and the green lamp 63 back to the battery E, so thatwhen the switch 5l is in this position the green light 63 is lit.

Also, when the foot pedal 49 is depressed, the circuit is alsocompletecl from one side of the battery E through the wire IIa, throughthe solenoid I2, the Wire I Ib, and then from the post 53 through thejurnper 50, through the post EI) of the double-pole, double-throw switch5, and through the lead 53 through the foot pedal switch and the wire 65that, lt will be remembered, is connected a s a 56 to the lead. wireIIc, thus completing the circuit.

Also, the white light 56 in the shunt circuii 55 Will light only whilethe foot pedal 49 is depressed. II; Will be remembered that the solenoidI2 is in this ci1cuit, as well as the white lighi', 55; and, asheretofore mentioned, the green light 63 is lit, so that every time thefoot pedal 49 is clepressed, I;he solenoid I2 is energizecl 170 raiseits gate 26 to discharge G; but the solenoid I2 will be deenergized themoment the foot pedal 49 is released, thus de-energizin the solenoid I2and cutting ofi the flow of the grit G to the front of the rear wheels2.

Thus, as long as the double-pole, double-throw switch 54 is in its lowerposition (Fig. 7) the green light 63 Will remain lit, laut the solenoidI2 Will only operate and. the white light 56 Will only be 1it as long asthe foot pedal 49 is depressed.

T0 recapitulate, when I7he double-pole, doublethrow switch 54 is thrownin the one direction, 4

as 130 the top, the white light 56 continues to burn, and the solenoidI2 will hold the gate 26, or the gate 43 in the modified form, in itsopen position until the switch 56 is thrown back to iI; neutralposition; whereas, if the double-pole, doublethrow switch 54 is thrownin the opposite direcicy, and it will assist in the starting or stoppin'of the car, 01' preventing the same, at times, from skiddinan II; willalso be appreciated that lt is 120 function w1th icy or slippery streetsrather than streets covered with deep snow.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a sanderwherein asingle or double storage bin may be used; and wherein thesander may be installed in cars already in use, or will be fitted in newcars in the factory; and it Will further be seen that the operation isautomatic, in that lt only takes the operation of a switch on thedashboard and/or the use of the foot pedal when the brake is applied.

I have found that I;he sander is one that greatly assists in safedriving on slippery streets and ;)1 1 tllliat is relatively cheap 130manufacture ancl II; will be understood that the sander may be bui1t ofdifierent sizes, depending on how much space there is for the storagebin; and might equally be well applied to trucks, buses, or evenmotorcycles.

Many slight changes might be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

Having thus described the same, what I claim is new and desire to securemy Letters Patent 1. In a sander for automotive vehicles, a storage binhaving a discharge opening therein, sand-conducting means leading fromthe discharge opening to in front of the rear wheels of the motorvehicle; a, solenoid having a gate attached thereto and the gatepositioned in front of the said discharge opening; an electric circuit,including the said solenoid; a dashboard switch in said circuit, wherebya closing of said svvitch Will energize the said solenoid to th s raisethe gate and permit a fiow of the sand to in front of the rear wheels ofthe vehicle; a further electric circuit, including a brake pedal switchso close the last-mentioned cirouit and energize the solenoid to in turnoperate the gate and thus permit a fiowing of the sand, but only as longas said brake pedal switch is depressed; a shunt circuit in saidfirst-mentioned electric circuit and a signal light therein to show whenthe solenoid is energized; anal a further circuit and an arm-operatedswitch, said arm mount ed in said storage bin and holding the switchopen when there is sand in the bin, a signal lamp in saidl-ast-mentioned circuit and said arm swinging inwardly to close the saidcircuit thus light the signal lamp when said storage bin is empty.

2. In a sander for automotive vehicles, a storage bin having a dischargeopening therein, sand-conducting means leadin from the discharge opening1:0 in front of the rear wheels of the motor vehicle; asolenoid-operated gate in frunt of the discharge opening; an electriccircuit including said solenoid; a dashboard doublethrow switch in saidcircuit, whereby the I;hrow- Ing of the switch in one direction willenergi2e said solenoid and hold the gate in a raised position to permita continuous flow of the sand from in front of the rear wheels of thevehicle; and a further electric circuit, including the doublethrowswiteh and also including a brake pedal switch so that when thedouble-throw switch is thrown in the opposite direction, a depression ofthe brake pedal switch will close said lastmentioned circuit and alsoenergize the solenoid and raise the gate to permit the flowing of thesand, but only as long as said brake pedal switch is depressed.

PETER J. SUNDHEIM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1354570 Lamping et a1. Oct. 5,1920 1427535 Lamping et a1 Aug. 29, 1922 1812521 Elston June 30 19312212865 Kirk Aug. 27, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 31,535Switzer1and June 21, 1904

